VICKERS MADE TO PAY FOR DEFENSIVE LAPSES

VICKERS MADE TO PAY FOR DEFENSIVE LAPSES

VICKERS MADE TO PAY FOR DEFENSIVE LAPSES

TILBURY 5 VCD ATHLETIC 2

On a typical hard and bumpy end of season pitch with the wind blowing, the Vickers found it difficult to get their normal passing game going, and coupled with some early defensive errors that saw them trail 3-0 it was always going to be an uphill struggle against a side showing greater urgency and intent. It was only when VCD upped their game that they looked to be able to retrieve something from the game but, following their good start, Tilbury always had the upper hand. The hosts showed their intent in the first minute when a ball in from the left was met by the unmarked Toby Aromolaran but he sent his header wide, before an excellent 5 man passing move from the Vickers at the other end saw Rashid Kamara flash his drive inches wide of a post. Then, with just 4 minutes on the clock Tilbury took the lead as Richard Butler’s pass out of defence was intercepted by Ryan Melaugh, who drove left footed high into the net past Michael Gooch. It got worse 4 minutes later when the ball was worked down the left before being squared to Emiel Aiken from where, in space, he side-footed home. Tilbury were looking strong and determined keeping VCD pegged back, but in a counter Daniel McCullock picked up the ball just inside the Tilbury half and went past 3 defenders with ease, but fired just over the bar. Then Mitch Hahn’s deep ball in from the left reached Victor Caicedo who touched it inside to Rashid Kamara whose snap shot went wide. On the half hour Tilbury’s lead was increased when an excellent deep diagonal ball to the right picked out the unmarked Conor Mead, who crossed on the volley to Emiel Aikens where he side-footed home his second goal of the afternoon. Keeper Michael Gooch then saved well low down from Conor Mead before VCD gradually began to make a mark on the game. Some excellent passing saw them cut through the home defence with ease on a number of occasions, but they were slow in getting their shots away and Tilbury kept them at bay with some fine blocks.
The Vickers attacked from the restart with the hard working Mitch Hahn breaking down the left from where he cut in but sent his low drive past the near post, then he and Daniel McCullock set up Victor Caicedo who turned his marker, but his curling effort drifted over the angle. VCD were now beginning to cause problems and got a lifeline 10 minutes into the half when the ball was worked forward to Rashid Kamara, who slipped in Victor Caicedo to fire low into the corner. VCD were now playing with more confidence and looked as though they would reduce the deficit further until Tilbury extended their lead with a somewhat fortunate goal when a ball into the box was headed goalwards by Danny Norton, only to come back off the bar and ricochet off keeper Michael Gooch into the net. Five minutes later the Vickers got their second goal of the afternoon when Rashid Kamara picked up a loose ball before making ground down the left, from where he squared to Victor Caicedo who side-footed home. It looked now that the Vickers might be able to salvage the game as they kept Tilbury deep in their half, but the ball was given away near the Tilbury byeline and it was quickly transferred upfield where possession was lost, falling nicely to Conor Mead, who curled a great ball over Michael Gooch into the top corner. A disappointing afternoon for the Vickers who can have no complaints, one upside being that with other results going their way Ryman League football is guaranteed at Oakwood for next season.